Cigarette rod former



June 27, 1933.

W. B. BRQNANDER CIGARETTE ROD FQRMER Filed Jan. 15, 1 932 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1933. w. B. BRONANDER CIGARETTE ROD FORMER Filed Jan. 13, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v mvE wmm i w. BRQNANDER CIGARETTE ROD FORMEH June 27,

Filed Jan. 13, 1932 5:5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 27 1933 UNITED STATES :PATENT OFFICE-- WILHELI B. BRONANDER, OF- HON'IOLAIR, NETIT JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CIGARETTE ROD FORMER Application filed January 13, 1932. Serial No. 586,427.

This invention relatesto an improvement in cigarette rod formers for continuous rod cigarette machines, its main object being to compress and form the tobacco before delivering it upon the traveling paper strip. Heretofore the tobacco stream was fed directly from the feed chute onto the aper with the result that the filler tobacco ad a rectangular cross-section considerably wider than the cigarette and the action of the filler forming mechanism and ton ue was such that the tobacco was too heavily compressed on the under side, thus forming the cigarettes more oval than round. 'In this invention a pair of endless belts arranged to form a V-shaped trough, travel under the feed chute, collecting the tobacco in approximately pyramidal form and then carry it forward and deposit it onto the cigarette paper strip by merely partingor se arating the belts insuch a manner that te same belts form a compressor operating to press whose cross-section is nearer to -round than that of any former. filler making devices.

In warping or turning the belts to deliver the tobacco upon the traveling paper strip, the belts exert a progressively increasing downward pressure on the tobacco. In order to secure an -even level and pressure at all times, a narrow blade tongue-is placed between the open belts which also guides the tobacco under the tongue of the rod forming tube. The narrow blade tongue may bereplaced by .a compressor wheel, if desired. Another advantage of this invention is that the paper does not pass under the feed for receiving the tobacco, thereby avoiding the trouble of tobacco crumbs catching between the edge of the paper and its guide. A further object is the production of a device capable of making perfect cigarettes at consid: erablyhigher speeds than obtainable with prior constructions. Withthese and other objects not specifically mentioned in view,

the invention consists in certain construcinafiter described and then specifically set forthin the claims hereunto appended.)

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the'new cigarette rod former;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of the rod former taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

F1 4 is a longitudinal cross-section showing-t e connection between the carrier belts shaped trough adapted to receive a shower L of tobacco, and a channel having an open bottom to deliver the tobacco onto the cigarette paper strip on said tape and compress it thereon, mechanism for driving and guiding said belts, a rod forming plate supportmg said tape and extending under said channe a'tongue cooperating with said plate to fold the cigarette paper strip about the tobacco, and means for compressing the tobacco in said trough. In the best forms of construction contemplated said mechanism includes side guides for the portions of said belts which form said trough and channel, guide plates on said guides engaging the upper edges of the belts, a guide bracket supporting said said endless ferred embodiment the means for compressin the tobacco in said trough includes a bridge to artially compress the tobacco in glides, and pulleys over which lts are trained. In the presaid troug and" a tongue late arranged to further partially compress t e tobacco m'said channel and guide it under said ton e.

These various means and parts may be w1de-= ly varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device select-1 ed to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to I 45 in the specific construction shown and described.

The new cigarette rod former has two endless belts and 16. Belt 15 is driven from a ulley 17 running over a gulle 18 which is oosely mounted on guide rac et 19 supportedby the main frame 20.0f the ci arette machine. Pulley 17 is mounted on s aft 21 supported by bearing 22. Shaft 21 carries another pulley 23 which is driven by a belt 24 from the main drive of the cigarette machine. To shaft 21 is furthermore fastened a gear 25 driving a gear 26 on shaft 27 supported by hearing 28. Shaft 27 carries also pulley or roiier 29 driving the belt 16 which runs over a puiiey 30, also pivoted to bracket 19. Rollers 13 and 30 are so placed that belts 15 and-16 will abut at their lowered es to form a V-shaped trough underneath t e tobacco chute 31 which extends partly into the channel, Fi 6. Pulls s .18 and 30 are assisted in ma ing the V-s aped trough by side guides 32. y The belts 15 and. 16 are furthermore guided by ide plates 33 mounted on .side guides 32 an engagfin'g the upper edges of the belts Pulleys 1 and 29 are set, at different angles than rollers 18 and 30 and are placed in such a manner that belts 15 and 16, formerly forming a !-shaped trough which is closed at the bottom, will be reversely warped or twisted to open up at the bottom and nearly close at the top to form an open bottomed channel, with the result that the tobacco T drops on the traveling paper strip P but is compressed more at the top than at the bottom. This warping or twisting of the belts 15 and 16 creates a downward pressure on the tobacco and so the wa ing of the belts 15 and 16 makes the same be ts which acted as a tobacco carrier also act as a compressor.

Q The continuously traveling paper strip P v is fed from a reel R, having a band B provided with a weight'W on its lower end and dra ging on periphery ofthe reel as shown l igs. 1 and 3, over a guide bar. 34 and roller 35 onto the formin tape 36 at pulley 37 pivoted in bracket 38 astened to the rod forming plate 39 supported by the main frame 20 of the machine. The top of the plate 39 is flat while underlying the bottom of the channel between belts 15 and. 16, but after leaving the same plate 39 is provided with 'a ro ively deeper groove which guides the ol 1 tape 36 and this in turn folds the around the filler tobacco T to form a round cigarette rod. A tongue 40 placed over plate 39 shapes the top part of the rod. Ton e 40 .equipped'with Hg 41 is held by guid a bars 42 mounted on plate 39. As soon as the paper strip P leaves belts 15 and 16, it starts to curl up and finally forms a round rod. In order to prevent the edges of the pa r from being pinched between belt 15 an pulley 17 as well as between belt 16 and 66 pulley 29 as they leave the same, on startingto guiding-said belts. for-forwarding a cigarette padper strip,

fold up the ed as of the'paper P the tape 36 is brought s ightly downward b from the channel between the belts 15 and 16, Fig. 4, thus leaving paper P and ta 36 straight at therhi h point A. Paper and ta e 36 run paraldel to the lower edges-of the be ts 15 and 16 while forming the bottom of the channel between said belts.

The tobacco T coming from the feed chute 31 and falling into the V-shaped trough formed by belts 15 and 16 is partially compressed before warping of the belts 15 and 16 b, a bridge 43 supported by side guides 32. hen the belts start to twist-when leaving guide plates 33 the tobacco is still further com ressed b a narrow tongue plate 44 and gui ed into t efolding'tongue 40. Tongue plate 44 also prevents s ringy parts of stems,

etc., from rising up an stoppmgfthe smooth travel of the tobacco. The rear end of the tongue 40 extends partly in between belts 15 and 16 thereby acting as a scraper for the belts 15 and 16 as they pass around the end rolls. As tongue 40 is removable, it is someinclining the top of the plate 39 downwar ly away I times diflicult to place the same in the exact position as before and thereby the scraping action of the rear end is harmed. For this reason a fixed brid e and scraper 45, Fig. 4. can be installed and the removable tongue 40 extended thereon.

Bythis construction it has been found possibleto-make perfect cigarettes at considerably higher speeds than on prior known constructions, up to 2,000 cigarettes per minute. With a this arrangement of reversely warped belts receiving the showered tobacco and delivering it to the cigarette pa r stri on the forming tape supported bv t e rod forming plate, it has been found thatthere is no jammin in the rod former, due to breakin of the c1garette rod at these higher spee s as in prior constructions.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a forming ta e for forwarding a cigarette pa r strip, 0 a pair of reversely war d end ess belts, one portion ofsaid belts eing inclined downwardly toward each other into abuttin relation at their lower edges to form a V-s sped trough and adapted to receive a shower of tobacco and another portionof said belts being inclined downwardly away from each other to form-a channel having an open bottom and to deliver the tobacco to the cigarette paper strip on sfiid tape and compress it thereon, and mechanism for driving and 2. T e combination a forming n ess belts, one

pair of reversely war-id a portion of said belts ing inclined downwardly toward-each other into abutti rela tion at their lower edges to form a V- aped trough and adapted to receive .a shower of tobacco, and another portion of said belts beother to form a channel having an ing inclined downwardly away from elajich n ottom andto deliver the tobacco to t e cigarette paper strip on said tape and compress it thereon, and mechanism for driving and guiding said belts, said mechanism including side guides for the portions of said belts forming said trough and channel, and guide plates on said side guides engaging the upper edges of belts along said trough.

3. In a rod former for continuous rod cigarette machines, the combination with a forming tape for forwarding a cigarette paper strip, of a pair of reversely warped endless belts, one ortion of said belts being inclined downwar ly toward each other into abutting relationat their lower edges to form a V- shaped; trough adapted to receive a shower of tobacco, and another portion of said belts being inclined downwardly away from each other to form a channel having an o n bottom and to deliver the tobacco to t e cigarette paper strip on said formin ta and compress it thereon, mechanism or riving and guiding said endless belts, a rod forming" plate supporting said tape and extending ,under said channel, a tongue cooperating with said plate to fold the cigarette paper strip about the tobacco, and means engaging the tobacco between said belts for compress ing the same.

4. In a rod rette machines, the combination with a forming tape for forwarding a cigarette paper strip, of a pair of reversely Warped endless belts, one ortion of said belts being inclined downwar ly toward each other into abutting relation at their lower edges to form a V- shaped trough-adapted to receive a shower.

which form said trough and channel, guide plates on saidguides engaging theupper edges of the belts, a guide bracket supportlng said guides, and pulleys over which said endless belts are trained.

5. In a rod former for continuous rod cigarette machines, the combination with a form- ,ing, t ape for forwarding a cigarette paper strip, of aTpair'of reversely warped endless belts, one giortion of said belts being inclined downwar former for continuous rod ciga y toward each other into'abutting relation at their lower edges to form a V- shaped trough adapted to receive a shower of tobacco, and another portion of said belts being inclined downwardly away from each other to form a channel having an open bottom and to deliver the tobacco to the cigarette paper strip on said forming tape and compress it thereon, mechanism for drivingand guiding said endless belts, a rod forming plate supporting said tape and extending under said channel, a ton e cooperating with said plate to fold the cigarette paper strip about the tobacco, and means engaging the tobacco between said belts for compressing the same, the formin plate underlying sa1d channel having a at upper surface and the portion of sa1d plate remote from said channel having a concave recess to fold the edges of the cigarette paper strip upwardly about the-tobacco.

6. n a rod former for continuous rod cigarette machines, the combination with a forming tape for forwarding a cigarette paper strip of a pair of reversely warped endless belts, one portion of said belts'being inclined downwardly toward each other into abutting relation at their lower edges to form a V- shaped trou h adapted to receive a showerof tobacco, and another portion of said belts being inclined' downwardly away from each other to form a channel having an open bottom and to deliver the tobacco to the cigarette ortion of said paper strip on said forming tape and compress it thereon, mechanism for driving-and guiding said endless 'belts, a rod forming plate supporting said tape and extendin under said channel, a tongue cooperating wit said plate to fold the cigarette paper strip about the tobacco, and means engaging the tobacco between said belts for compressing the same, said means for compressing the tobacco including a bridge arranged to compress the tobacco in said trough, and a tongue plate arranged to further compress the toacco in sa1d channel and guide it under said tongue. v

7. In a rod former for continuous rod cigarette machines, the combination with a fo ming tape for forwarding a cigarette paper strip, of a pair of reversely wa d endless belts, one portion of said belts being inclined downwardly toward each other into abutting relation at their lower edges to form a' V-shaped trough adaptedto receive a shower of tobacco, and another portion of said belts being inclined downwardly away from each other to form a channel having an open bottom and to deliver the tobacco to the cigarette paper strip on said forming tape and compress it thereon, mechanism for driving and guiding said endless belts, a rod f0 'ming plate supporting said tape and extending under said channel, a tongue cooperating with said plate to fold the cigarette paper strip about the tobacco, and means cigarette machines, the combination with a p en tending forming tape for forwarding a cigarette r strip, of a pair of reversely war (1 less belts, one ortion of said belts being inclined downwardly toward each other into abutting relation at their lower edges to form a V-shaped trough adapted to receive a shower of tobacco, and'another portion of said belts being inclined downwardly away from each other to form a channel having an open bottom and to deliver the tobacco to the cigarette paper strip on said forming tape and compress it thereon,- mechanism for driving and guiding said endless belts, a rod forming plate supporting said tape and exunder said channel, a tongue cooperating with said plate to fold the cigarette paper stri ;l about the tobacco, and means. engaging t e tobacco between said belts for compressing the same, one end of said tongue 888 estending inwardly between said end belts and being shaped toact as a scraper for said belts.

9. In a rod former for continuous rod cigarette machines, the combination with a forming tape for forwarding a cigarette pa r strip, of a pair of reversely warped en less belts, one rtion of said belts beingv inclined downwardly toward each other into abutting relation at their lower edges to form I trough adapted to' receive a showero tobacco, and another ortion of said belts being inclined downwar 1y away from each other to form a channel having an open bottom and to deliver the tobacco .to the cigarette paper strip on said forming tape and compress it thereon, mechanism for driving and guiding said endless belts, a rod forming plate supporting said'tape and extending under 881d channel, a tongue cooperating with said plate to fold the cigarette paper strip about the tobacco, and means engaging the tobacco between said belts for compressing the same, and a fixed bridge and scraper extending between said endless belts and arranged to guide the tobacco under said tongue and adapted to scrape tobacco from said belts. 10. The-combination with a forming tafpec a to operate on for forwarding a cigarette paper strip, pair of endless belts arran either side of a stream of to acco to forward and compress the same, pulleys over which the surfaces 0 the forward end of said run, and a stationary rod forming tongue coacting wlth the tape to form the tobacco into a cigarette either. side of a stream of to acco to forward and compress the same, pulleys over which the forward end of said belts run, a' stationary rod forming tongue coacting with the tape to form the tobacco into a cigarette rod, said rod forming tongue having: rear portion fitting the surfaces of the "Its passing over said pulleys to guide tobacco from the belts into the tongue and to prevent strag particles of tobacco from passing on wit the belt, said rear portion of the tongue being made separate from the forward portion the tongue, and. means for removably supporting the forward portion'and immovab y securing the rear ortion whereby the for wardportion can readil removed with out disturbing the relations ip between said rear portion and the belts.

,12. T.he combination with a formlng tape for forwardin the ci arette aper stri of g 8 ed endless bblts a pair of vertically inclin adapted to. operate on either side of a stream of tobacco to forward the same, pulleys over which said belts are run, means coacting with the tape to form the 'paper and'tobacco into.

a cigarette rod and a tobacco guiding element positioned to engage the upper s1de of said stream liavingefortions operating on the ts as they pass around the 'pulle s to scrape particles of tobacco from the ts.

13. The combination with a device for guiding showered tobacco, of a air ofbelts,

in-substantially the same direction, devices I for moving a cigarette paper strip under said belts to receive the tobacco where said belts separate, and'means for forming the strip and tobacco thereon into a cigarette rod.

14. The wmbination with a device for guiding showered tobacco, of a pair of belts,

mechanism for guiding said belts in V: formation under said device to'receive and forward tobacco therefrom,means for se arating the lower edges of said belts beyond said device while the belts continue to move in substant1al ly the same direction, means for moving a c1 tte paper strip under said belts to v receive the tobacco where said belts separate, 139- and means for forming the strip and tobacco thereon into a cigarette rod, sald paper moving means including means bringing the paper against the lower edges of the belts at a point beyond said device.

15. The combination with a chute for guiding showered tobacco, of a air of belts, mechanism for guiding said be ts in V formation under said chute with their lower edges together to receive and forward tobacco, belt guiding means to warp at least one of said belts towards a vertical position to separate thelower edges of said belts, a web passing along and under said belts at the position where the edges part for forwarding the to-' bacco, and a rod forming tongue cooperating directly with the tobacco as it passes from between said belts for forming thetobacco into a cigarette rod.

16. The combination with a chute for iding showered tobacco; of a pair of elts, mechanism for guiding runs of said belts in formation under said chute with their lower edges together to receive and forward tobacco, belt guiding means to warp at least one of said belts towards a vertical position to separate the lower edges of said belts, means extending under said belts at the position where the edges part for forwarding the tobacco and means coo eratin with said receiving means for forming the tobacco on said forwarding means into a clgarettc rod,

' said warping means comprising a pulley over which one of said belts runs having its axis at an angle to the plane of the belts as they pass under the chute. r

17. Ihe combination with a chute for guiding showered tobacco, of a pair of belts, mechanism for guiding said belts in V formation under said chute with their lower edges together to receive and forward tobacco, belt guiding means to warp at least one of said belts towards a vertical position to separate the lower edges of said belts, means extending under said belts at the position where the edges part for forwarding the tobacco, and means cooperating with said receiving means for forming the tobacco on said forwarding means into a cigarette rod, said mechanism including V shaped guide means having an apex angle of less than a right angle for maintaining he belts in predetermined V relationship under the chute. v

18. The combination with a chute for guiding showered tobacco, of mechanism passing under said chute for re eiving and forwarding the showered tobacco in a continuous stream, mechanism receiving tobacco from said forwarding means and forming the same into a cigarette rod, and a stationary strip of a thickness substantially less than the width of the stream of'forwarded tobacco extending downwardly and along the upper V formation under said chute to receive and 7 forward tobacco therefrom, means beyond said chute for separating the lower edges of said belt, devices for feeding a paper strip under said belts at a position between the said chute and the separating means and thence along the belts to receive tobacco deposited as a result of the separating, and means for forming the strip and tobacco thereon into a cigarette rod.

20. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a tobacco feed chute, of a pair of belts, mechanism for guiding said belts in V formation under said chute to receive and forward tobacco therefrom, means beyond said chute for separating the lower edges of said belt, and devices for feeding a paper strip under said belts to receive tobacco deposited as a result of the separating ofthe belts and tobacco compressing means acting on the upper side of the tobacco stream where" the belt edges are separated to compress the tobacco against said paper strip.

21. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a tobacco feed chute, of a pair of belts, mechanism for guiding said belts in V formation under said chute to receive and forward tobacco therefrom, means beyond said cbute'for separating the lower edges of said belt, devices for feeding a paper strip under said belts to receive tobacco deposited as a result of the separating of the belts, tobacco compressingmeans acting on the upper sideof the tobacco stream where the belt edges are separated to compress the tobacco against said paper strip, and rod form ing means including a rod forming element arched over the tobacco and extending between the exit ends of said belts, said compressing means having a portion extending under the rear end of said element.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILHELM B. BRONAN'DER. 

